Color code of AC power cords

European colors

• The live conductor must be brown
• The neutral is blue
• The earth ('safety ground') must be green/yellow

This comes from the harmonized cable standards, which are backed up by European legislation. Those color codes are used in fixed wiring, equipment cables and inside equipments.

Colors used in USA

• Green is earth,
• Black is live
• White is neutral.

In some cases the color of live wire can be red or blue.